Newest Layout...burn it up.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GearDrivenSteam

a simple invention I sat down and designed the other night. It doesn't involve one single popout, and will give me access to the entire layout.

levitation? anti-gravity?

I see the good points of the switchback. If I put in the wye, I'd probably hide it, and try not to make it obvious. I have no problem with leaving it out.

So, is there an update?

[Anonymous]

I like the switchback feature. It's very protoytpical, espesially on a logging route. Also, if I connect the two loops with a wye, I will lose the scenery potential I have right there between the loops. There's great landscape potential there. Lastly, I solved the access problems Chip spoke of with a simple invention I sat down and designed the other night. It doesn't involve one single popout, and will give me access to the entire layout.

[Anonymous]

I think the wye makes sense, it also lets you get to the rightmost area without a switchback type maneuver. Have to think if that interferes with fixing the access problem....

[ereimer]

add a turnout to each of those half circles of track in the middle and connect them with a piece of straight track and you'll have built a 'wye' and you can use it to turn your locos around , or even a whole train

[Anonymous]

I think Spacemouse is right on the access problem. It looks like you could pu***he middle loop back, maybe even under the yard in the back. The biggest access problem then is the three foot wide left side. Is this a room, where the only access is as shown? I guess a hatch in the loop, and then the worst operational reach would be about 2 feet. The other possible solution to the back corner would be to mover the yard to the inside of the loop. Some of the S curves could be addressed, as well, be making them more sweeping, but still rugged.

[SpaceMouse]

HI,

You have a good one going, but I don't think you are there yet. There are three issues I think still need to be dealt with.

1) All your corners are unreachable. That's not so bad if it's just scenery, but your whole yard is that way. How are you going to uncouple? An access hole is good if all you have is track maintainance, but you have high traffic areas out of reach. I don't know how tall you are, but I'm 6 foot and 30" is my maximum. You can solve a lot of it if you take your loop at the end of you access and push it back further toward the wall. In the lower right, you would have to take out the track coming down from the back of the mill.

2) You have a lot of "S" curves. Now your Shay might not have any problem with them, but if you have any kind of mainline locos, you might have a derailling nightmare. I know what you are trying to do with it, but you can do the same thing by making your mountains rugged and keeping your track straight. That's what tressels and retaining walls are for. Take another look at Paul Tressler's layout.

3) I would still add a staging area, or at least one track. Where the main line comes down from the yard, you could throw a turnout and start a 2% down grade into a tunnel. When you get to the bridge you should be low enough to follow under the bridge. Turn off to the right and you could have a track or two exposed lower than the layout on the outer facia to use as a fiddle area. You could even have a fold down flap to hide it.

Take heart, your getting close.

[Anonymous]

Here's the link:

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/robertmerritt/aah

I know it's reversed from the earlier version. After looking, I noticed the closet on the right side was blocked. That aint gonna work. So, I just flipped it over and got what I needed. I think this is the one we're goin with boys. Oh yeah, it's 9' X 9'.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SpaceMouse
Anything taller than wide won't enlarge.

Ah-ha. So that's it. I tore out most of my remaining hair this weekend trying to figure that out. Thanks, Chip!

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by GearDrivenSteam

As you can see, we added two runarounds and made a change to the right side. This is not my work, but the design of a new friend. I think he's on to something. I don't understand why it won't enlarge. I followed everyone's advice. It just doesn't work.

Anything taller than wide won't enlarge. Just post the URL at the bottom and say click to enlarge. We're used to it.

[ChessieFan13]

nice..............what are the demintions?

[Anonymous]

GDS,

It is looking good buddy, I'm betting that it's going to be a lot of fun to build.

Keep your nose to the grindstone, I'm seeing good stuff...


Peace.

Coyote

[Anonymous]

As you can see, we added two runarounds and made a change to the right side. This is not my work, but the design of a new friend. I think he's on to something. I don't understand why it won't enlarge. I followed everyone's advice. It just doesn't work.